Emerald ash borer found in trees in La Crescent

La Crescent, Minn., is the latest Minnesota city to be confronted with the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that threatens Minnesota's nearly 1 billion ash trees.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture workers recently identified two infested trees in La Crescent, based on tracks that were visible under some split bark, said spokeswoman Liz Erickson.

The finding won't have a major impact, since the city is in Houston County, which was put under an ash quarantine when borers were found in a wildlife area there in 2010. Also under quarantine in Minnesota are Winona, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

The state's first ash borer finding was in St. Paul in May 2009. Since then, thousands of ash trees have been taken down while others have been treated with insecticides to try to prevent the beetle's advance. The Department of Agriculture has also released predator wasps in the fight to curb tree losses.

An informational session will take place at 5 p.m. Jan. 16 at La Crescent City Hall.